It’s so familiar that it’s invisible
By Judy Carter
“Editor’s note: This article is adapted by the author from her book The Message of You: Turn Your Life Story into a Money-Making Speaking Career (St. Martin’s Press).
Have you ever imagined yourself a speech contest winner, perhaps the World Champion of Public Speaking? As Toastmasters, you want to deliver a speech that transforms people’s lives. But how to find that message or story that inspires the audience to action?
Okay, I’m going to say something shocking. Ready? Your greatest speech already exists, even though you don’t know it.
It’s in the advice you give to your friends, in the lessons you teach your children, in the stories you tell your family. You’ve given parts of your speech when you helped your sister build her website, or when you shared the story of your immigrant grandparents’ journey to a new country. The Message of You speech is in the stories you share that inspire others to tell the truth, conquer their fears and lead happier, healthier and wealthier lives. Your greatest speech is in the stories you tell every day.
The Message of You is a distillation of all of your experiences, personal and professional, that form the meaning of your life. It’s what you’ll be remembered for when you die, your legacy. It’s what you stand for, are associated with, are famous for or might become famous for.
The thing most World Champions of Public Speaking have in common is that their speeches reflect the message they have lived. What’s tricky is you may not be aware of yours. Often the meaning of our lives is lost on us. It’s so familiar that it’s invisible. We’re not objective about what we’re bringing to others, unable to see our own impact. Yet these are the very things that make people want to listen and know more about us.
The good news is you can discover The Message of You and develop it to enhance your current profession, win toastmasters contests and even launch a successful career as a professional speaker.
So, How Do You Find Your Message?
The secret to finding The Message of You lies in the word itself. You can’t spell “message” without a M-E-S-S. You can’t see that mess without A-G-E. And when you reflect back on the messes in your life you can become a S-A-G-E. See it now? M-E-S-S-A-G-E!
Your “mess” may have occurred in your childhood. Perhaps with “age” you can see that the mess was the first step on your road to success.
Turn Your Mess into a Message
Look back to your childhood or youth and dig deeper to find a situation that was a “mess”—a party you weren’t invited to, a time you were bullied or rejected, or when you did something regrettable.
My childhood messes not only provide me with comedy material, they also give me purpose. As I wrote the book The Message of You, memories I’d forgotten came to mind and I saw how they’d shaped me and were part of my success. One repressed memory was…”
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Click on the video below to watch a presentation where Judy “Carter talks about her inspiration for The Message Of You”:
JIA Toastmasters Club 